Switch for store service



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Mo'del'.)

E. L. GILES.

SWITCH FOR STORE SERVICE.

No. 333,744. Patented Jan. 3, 1 886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. L. GILES.

SWITCH FOR STORE SERVICE.

' Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

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WWI/76'- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I EDYVIN L. GILES, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH FOR STORE SERVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,744, dated January 5, 1886.

Application filed June 5. 18:55.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. GILEs, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell,. Middlesex county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Store-Service, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in which the ways are traversed by rolling carriers of-different dimensions; and my invention consists in combining with the said ways and with a rail forming a continuation of the main track a deflector above the ways, whereby the larger carriers are directed over the said rail and onto the the branch track.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating my improved deflector as arranged at the junction of the main and branch tracks of a store-servicerailway; Fig. 2, the same showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 3, a plan of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a longitudinal elevation illustrating a modification.

A represents the main and B the branch track of the way of a store-service apparatus; but the branch track, instead of opening into the main track, as usual, is closed by a rail, (1, of the main track, so that the latter is practically continuous, and carriers, in the shape of hollow spheres X, moving in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 2 and 3,wil1 be maintained upon the main track, and canonly be transferred to the branch through the medium of proper appliances. Inasmuch as some of the carriers only should travel continuously upon the main track, I provide means whereby those which should be transferred to the branch track shall be caused to cross the rail a, such means consisting of a deflecting bar or wing,

Serial No. 167,759. (No model.)

b, turning in bearings upon a standard, d, secured near the junction ofthe two tracks,and in a bracket, (1, supported by a yoke, E, inclosing and overhanging the main track. By rocking the shaft 1) the deflector may be elevated to such a position as to be out of the way ofall the carriers, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; or it may be turned down so as to be struck by such of the carriers as are in excess ofa certain size and guide them laterally over the rail a, over the track B, as shown in Fig. 1. The automatic rocking of the shaft b is effected by the vibration of an arm, f, projecting from a roclcshaft, g, turning in bearings in the yoke E, the armfprojectiug undera weighted arm, h, extending from the shaft 6. f is thrown upward, the shaft b is turned and the deflector is carried downward to the position shown in Fig. 1, and when the arm f is carried downward the weight upon the arm 72. turns the shaft b andlifts the deflector to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The movements of the shaft 9 requisite to adjust the deflector are effected by the carriers through the medium of apendent arm,k, which is threaded and extends through a hub in the shaft 9, and may be turned to adjust the arm to any desired position, so as to be struck by the larger carriers which are to be deflected. The smaller carriers pass beneath the arm k, and are maintained upon the main track. The larger carriers, by striking the arm is, rock the shaft g and adjust the deflector so as to be struck by the carriers.

The rail or. is preferably depressed or sunken When the arm opposite the center of the track B, to facilitate the transfer of the carriers, and it may consist of a wire, as shown, or it may be a continuation of the inner rail, m, of the main track.

I have shown devices in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 to illustrate the adjustment of the deflector; but I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to this means of altering its position above the tracks. For instance, it may be secured to sliding bars at n, extending through parts of the track or through brackets connected therewith, and these bars may be connected to crank levers H, the vibration of which is the means of raising and lowering the bars and altering the position of the deflector, as shown is Fig. 4. The devices for imparting motion to the deflector from the carriers may also be differently constructed from those shown in Figs. 2 and 3. For instance, levers N N may be connected to thelevers H H, and may be arranged between the tracks to be struck by the carriers, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as to swing the levers H, the levers N N only being acted upon by the smaller carriers, which sink to a greater distance below the surface of the rails.

It is not essential that the deflector shall in all cases be adjustable. It may be secured in itsposition fixedly above the tracks, so as to permit the smaller carriers to pass along the main track and to be struck by the larger carriers.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown, I

. claim 1. The combination, with the main and branch tracks of a store-service apparatus, of a rail extending across the branch track where it connects with the main track, and an adjustable deflector arranged to be struck by graduated carriers and to guide the latter over the said rail to the branch track, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the main and branch tracks and deflector arranged above the tracks, of a rail extending across the branch track at its junction with the main track, and depressed,substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the main and branch tracks, of an adjustable deflector and appliances, substantially as described, for moving the deflector by the action of graduated carriers, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the main and branch tracks, rail a, deflector hung to supports above the tracks, and rocking arm arranged to be struck by graduated carriers. and connections between the arm and the deflector, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the main and branch tracks and rail to, and a deflector hung in bearings above the tracks,provided with a weighted arm, a rock-shaft hung above the tracks and provided with an arm extending under said weighted arm, and with a pendent arm arranged to be struck by the larger carriers, substantially as described.

Intesti mony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDXVIN L. GILES.

Witnesses:

E. F. ENDICOTT, 0. WV. LocKE. 

